Mister Minister,As the Minister is aware of, Russia and Germany agreed a few weeks ago to jointly advice Turkey to introduce reforms in Anatolia. In accordance with this agreement the said Powers directed a proposal to Turkey which, according to what the Turkish ambassador here [Fahreddin/Fahrettin Bey] has informed me, largely consists of the following: Turkey asks the Great Powers to appoint two European advisors, one for each of the Anatolian governors. The governors, together with the advisors, hire and fire all officials. The governors and the advisors have to be in agreement in all matters concerning governance [or: regarding all governmental measures]. If disagreement arises the matter can be deferred to the Porte, and, in case the advisors are not satisfied with the decision, to the Great Powers.

Turkey is supposedly willing to appoint advisors, but is firmly against accepting the remainder of the proposal. The ambassador stated, however, that Mister Sazonow [Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Sazonov] is still strongly insisting that the proposal be accepted and has at the moment only shown himself to be willing to negotiate questions of minor importance.